Kobby Bentsi-Enchill, Head, Investment Banking, Stanbic Bank Ghana

Stanbic Bank Ghana has supported Kasapreko PLC in the closing of GHS 200 million Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes issuance, marking a historic milestone in Ghana’s corporate debt capital markets. The transaction grossed the largest amount ever raised by a corporate in a single issuance in the history of the Ghana Fixed Income Market.

Commenting on the transaction, Kobby Bentsi-Enchill, Head of Investment Banking at Stanbic Ghana, stated, “This successful bond issuance underscores Stanbic Ghana’s unwavering commitment to supporting the growth of Ghanaian businesses and fostering a vibrant capital market. We are proud to have played a pivotal role in this landmark transaction, leveraging our credentials, deep sector expertise and strong relationships with investors to deliver a favourable outcome for Kasapreko. This issuance has indeed set a new benchmark for corporate debt financing in Ghana and reinforces Stanbic Ghana’s position as a leading Investment Bank and financial advisor of choice, partnering with businesses to scale and achieve their strategic objectives.”

Kasapreko, a leading Ghanaian manufacturer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with nearly 45% market share of the local beverage market, has now raised GHS 350 million in 2024 under its recently established bond programme, making it the largest corporate bond issuer within a calendar year in Ghana.

As the first corporate to implement the bookbuild auction methodology to achieve price discovery for the notes, this issuance sets a new bar for innovation and excellence and cemented Kasapreko’s leadership status in Ghana’s capital markets. Despite the challenging market backdrop, the issuance was met with strong participation and an oversubscription of 1.1x, reflecting investor confidence in the Issuer’s creditworthiness and growth prospects. Moreover, the bonds were priced 250bps tighter than the first issuance, a testament to the company’s financial strength and growing market reputation.

Stanbic Ghana’s role as Joint Lead Manager and Arranger on this deal highlights our commitment to supporting our clients, such as Kasapreko, seeking access to the capital markets, as they continue to optimize their capital structure and drive growth in a challenging economic environment. This transaction not only sets the tone for future corporate bond issuances but also highlights our continued focus on providing best-in-class debt capital markets advisory services and execution in Ghana.

The proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to optimize Kasapreko’s capital structure and pursue long-term growth initiatives, further strengthening its position as a market leader in the beverages sector.